speed metal organum blues
Gregory Wanamaker
About this work:
speed metal organum blues was commissioned by the Prism Saxophone Quartet for their 20th Anniversary Concerts in November, 2004. Barely over a minute long, this work is part of a group of 20 one-minute long pieces by 20 composers to comemmorate the Prism Quartet’s milestone.
I have invented the term “speed metal organum” to refer to the fast paced succession of open 5th “power chords” found in speed metal music - and the strange notion that this music may have actually evolved from 13th century organum (doubtful, but funny to think about - Monks on speed!).
speed metal organum blues opens with a short statement presented in open 4ths/5ths in all four saxophones. After a brief development, the statement expands into a single 12-bar blues chorus climaxing on the so-called “V” chord. The opening statement returns contrapuntally followed by a return to the parallel 4th/5th texture.
Year composed: 2004
Duration: 00:01:04
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Saxophone Quartet
Instrumentation: